Synthesis, morphology, and ion conduction of polyphosphazene ammonium iodide ionomers

Joshua Bartels, Andrew Hess, Huai Suen Shiau, Harry R. Allcock, Ralph H. Colby, James Patrick Runt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anion conducting polyphosphazene ionomer analogues of poly[bis(methoxyethoxyethoxy)phosphazene] (MEEP) were synthesized and their iodide transport properties studied. Polymer bound cations were quaternized with either short alkyl or short ether oxygen chains. X-ray scattering reveals a low q peak near 4 nm-1 arising from the backbone-backbone spacing between polyphosphazene chains, an ion-related peak at 8 nm-1, and a peak at 15 nm-1 corresponding primarily to the amorphous halo of the PEO side chains. Because of the short spacing of the intermediate q peak, the ions are proposed to exist mostly in isolated ion pairs or small aggregates. First-principles calculations combined with dielectric spectroscopy suggest that less than 10% of the ions are in isolated pairs while the remainder participate in quadrupoles or other small aggregates. These ionomers display high values for the high frequency dielectric constant, ε (highest value ε = 11), due to atomic polarization of the iodide anion. These MEEP-based ionomers have room temperature dc conductivity of order 10-6 S cm-1 and show potential for application in iodide conducting solar cells if the segmental mobility could be increased.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)111-118
Number of pages8
JournalMacromolecules
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 13 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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